NAB court allows one-time exemption from hearing to Shehbaz and Hamza

An accountability court in Lahore has accepted applications of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his son and Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shehbaz regarding one-time exemption from hearings in separate references.

Shehbaz Sharif, who was to appear before court in Aashiana-i-Iqbal Housing Scheme case had made the plea that due to being occupied in various matters in Islamabad, he could not appear before the court on Tuesday.

Hamza Shehbaz, who was to appear before court in Ramzan Sugar Mills case had maintained in a similar application that due to important matters of urgent nature and public welfare, he was pre-occupied and asked for exemption.

Shehbaz Sharif nominated Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry whereas Hamza Shehbaz appointed Mudassar Abdul Majid to represent them in the court.

Resultantly, the court accepting the applications directed the lawyers to furnish arguments on July 16.

Shehbaz has been charged with misuse of authority in Aashiana Iqbal case by unlawfully assuming powers of the Punjab Land Development Company (PLDC) and causing a loss to the public exchequer. Meanwhile, Hamza Shehbaz is charged by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of causing a loss of Rs213 million to the public exchequer fraudulently.

Both Shehbaz and Hamza have been granted bail by the Lahore High Court (LHC) in February 2019 and February 2020 respectively.